Methods and systems for controlling olfactory stimuli

• US 6,282,458 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Koichi, Yamauchi, Satoshi, Murayama, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, KHOI H
• Application Number:
  US09/364,422
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 700/239, 700/241, 700/265, 222/3, 73/233.4, 73/233.6, 422/5, 422/123, 422/108
• US Class Current: 700/239
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 21/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

The system and method of controlling the olfactory stimuli release a specified aroma-causing agent from a first specified location in environment. In order to simulate the movement of the released aroma-causing agent in space, the same aroma-causing agent is released from a second specified location in the environment.

Claims

1. A method of controlling olfactory stimuli in a limited space, comprising the steps of:

a′

) providing a plurality of aromas;

a″

) placing a network of olfactory releasing stations at predetermined locations;

a) selecting a first releasing location among the predetermined locations based upon an input signal which is at least indicative of a location and one of the plurality of the aromas from which an aroma-causing agent is selected;

b) releasing the aroma-causing agent based upon the input signal from the first releasing location;

c) selecting at least a second releasing location; and

d) releasing the aroma-causing agent based upon the input signal from the second releasing location to simulate a movement of the aroma in space.

2. The method of controlling the olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein said input signal includes information on a directionality and a delay time and further comprises additional steps of c) selecting a second releasing location based upon the input signal and d) releasing the aroma-causing agent from the second releasing location after a certain time specified in the input signal.

3. The method of controlling the olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 further comprising an additional step of e) of releasing a first aroma-removing agent near the first releasing location.

4. The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 3 wherein said input signal also indicates strength of the aroma-causing agent.

5. The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein the aroma-causing agent is stored in a liquid form.

6. The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein the aroma-causing agent is stored in a solid form.

7. The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein the aroma-causing agent is a mixture of a plurality of aroma-causing elements.

8. The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 1 wherein said steps a) and b) are performed in the environment where audio-visual stimuli are provided to complement the olfactory stimuli.

9. The method of controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 2 wherein the first releasing location and the second releasing location are in a network environment.

10. A system for controlling olfactory stimuli, comprising:

an input signal unit for inputting an input signal indicative of a first location, a second location and an aroma-causing agent;

a plurality of aromas and non-aroma stimuli;

a control unit connected to said input signal unit for generating a first location signal and a second location signal based upon the input signal;

a network of aroma releasing units each connected to said control unit, each of said aroma releasing units having access to said aromas further comprising;

a storage unit for storing an aroma-causing agent;

a first releasing unit located near the first location and connected to said storage unit and said control unit for releasing said aroma-causing agent in environment based upon the first location signal wherein the input signal indicative of a first location signal for activating a first one of said aroma releasing units that is located near the first location, the input signal also indicating which one of said aromas that contains said aroma-causing agent; and

a second releasing unit located near the second location and connected to said storage unit and said control unit for releasing said aroma-causing agent in environment based upon the second location signal wherein the input signal indicative of a second location signal for activating a first one of said aroma releasing units that is located near the second location, the input signal also indicating which one of said aromas that contains said aroma-causing agent, wherein the system stimulates a movement of the aroma in space.

11. The system for controlling the olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 further comprising a second releasing unit, said input signal unit further inputs information on a directionality and a delay time via the input signal, said control unit generating a second location signal for a second location based upon the input signal, said second releasing unit located substantially near the second location for releasing the aroma-causing agent after a certain time specified in the input signal.

12. The system for controlling the olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein said first releasing unit releases a first aroma-removing agent near the first location for removing the aroma-causing agent.

13. The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein the input signal also indicates strength of the aroma-causing agent.

14. The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein the aroma-causing agent is stored in a liquid form.

15. The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein the aroma-causing agent is stored in a solid form.

16. The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 wherein the aroma-causing agent is a mixture of a plurality of aroma-causing elements.

17. The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 10 further comprising an audio-visual unit for providing audio-visual stimuli in the environment to complement the olfactory stimuli.

18. The system for controlling olfactory stimuli according to claim 12 wherein the first location and the second location are in a network environment.